Ignition device



Aug. 13, 1935. G; sTlfZFFEN IGNITION DEVICE Filed Decl 4, 1931 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l IGNITION DEVICE Application December 4, 1931, Serial No. 578,943

10 Claims.

My invention relates to igniters for gas bumers and contemplates an improvement in such devices adapted to insure lighting of the burners even under conditions of extremely low gas pressure or while using inferior grades of gas.

It is well known that, in the use of gas burners, it is very difcult to light the burner, particularly when using a pilot light, under conditions of low gas pressure, as for instance when the burner. is used to deliver a minimum amount of heat.

My invention provides means for insuring ignition of the gas issuing from the burner under conditions of low pressure or when poorer grades of gas are being burned.

My invention also materially expedites the operation of igniting the burner from a pilot light. A device embodying my invention-may be easily raised or 'removed for cleaning and repair of the device and of the heater with which it is utilized.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of theinvention with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended clalmswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an arrangement of burners and igniter embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The present invention deals particularly with the so-called gravity type of igniter in which a sheltered pilot flame is burningv at all times. These devices are so constructed that when the gas is turned on at a burner a portion of the gas is led from the burner to the pilot ame where it is ignited and burned in such a manner that the ame travels back to the burner. The invention is particularly shown and described in an embodiment of such an igniter adapted for'use with open ame burners as for instance the burners used in gas ranges, stoves and the like, but may be used or modified for use with other types` of burners, other kinds of fuel and other igniters.

Referring now to the drawing for a more complete disclosure of the invention, there is shown at III'a gaseous fuel-manifold of the usual construction. The manifold is connected by means of a pipe (not shown) to a burner II which is of the usual construction except that a pipe fit- .to the manifold I0.

ting I2 is threaded into the end of one of the arms of the burner II and a small torch head or spud I3 is threaded into the pipe fitting. The spud is provided with two ports 25 and 26 at its upper end arranged to direct gas issuing there- 5 from into two opposed streams which, when ignited form two ames I4 and I5 one of which,

I4, burns directly over the outermost ports of the burner, to which the spud is attached, and the other of which, I5, is directed toward the pilot lo burner, hereinafter described.

A substantially circular or cup-shaped base I5 is attached to the fitting I2, as by utilizing the spud I3 as a bolt, and a cylindrical or cup-shaped hood or trap II is telescoped over the base I6 in loose engagement 4therewith to provide a chamber for trapping thegas issuing from the Spud. I3, and housing the spud. Openings I8 are provided in the side wall of the trap to furnish oxygen to the flames to support combustion. A vent 20 I9 is provided in thetop of the trap to permit the products of combustion from the flames to pass out of the trap, and another opening 2I is provided in the side wall of the trap to permit the iiame I4 to issue therefrom. A circular opening 25 22 is provided in the side wall of the trap in a location opposite to and above the opening 2| and a thin walled pipe 23 is inserted in the opening and fastened to the opposite portion of the wall of the trap I'Iby means of a tongue 24 which 30 projects through a suitable slot in the wall. The lower half of the portion of the pipe 23 which projects'inside the trap I'I is cut away in order that the gas from the spud I3 may have easy access to the interior of the pipe. 35

A pipe fitting 3I is disposed in an opening in the manifold I0 and a pipe or lighter tube 32 is secured to the fitting 3I by means of a bushing or pilot body 33. The outer end of the pipe or lighter tube is preferably threaded in order that a cup- 40 shaped pilot hood base 34 may be secured thereto by means of nuts 35. y

The end of the pipe 32 has a torch head 36 thereon, which is provided with a burner or pilot tip 31 having one or more ports therein to per- 45 mit the escape of gas. The passageway through lthe fitting 3 I, the pipe 32 and the tip 31 is 'always open so that when gas escaping through the ports in the tip is ignited a pilot'flame 38 is provided which burns constantly as long as gas is supplied The fitting 3I has a pilot adjusting 'screw 30. A cylindrical or cup-shaped cover or hood 39- is telescoped over the base 34 and one portion of the wall rests on the pipe 32. The hood is 55 adapted to cover the pilot iiame 38 to prevent the flame from being quenched by external air currents or the like. Openings 4I are provided in the cover 39 and the base 34 to permit entrance of air into the hood so that the ame may have oxygen to support combustion. Another opening 42 is provided in the top of the hood to permit the escape of the products of combustion.

A plurality of circular openings 43 are provided in the side walls of the hood and short sections of thin walled pipe 44 are fastened to project through the openings into the hood. The inner end of the pipe 44 is preferably cut at an angle so that the upper portion projects further into the hood than does the lower portion. 'I'he pipe isadapted to be secured to the walls of the hood by means of upstruck portions or lugs 45, which areI adapted to loosely engage the wall of the hood at the openings 43, forming a hinge mounting permitting the respective tubes to be raised or pivoted about the point of engagement so that the burner can be either cleaned or removed.

A tube or adjusting sleeve 41 is loosely telescoped over the pipes 23 and 44 and thus provides for relative movement of the trap I1 with respect to the hood 39 to provide for differences in the dimensions of the heaters or stoves with which the'lighting device is to be used. A slot 48 is provided on the Vunder side of the tube 41 to permit the entrance of air to the tube in order to support combustion of gas within the tube, and lugs 43 and 5I on the outer ends of the respective pipes 23 and 44 are located within the slot 48 to prevent relative rotation of the sleeve and other parts of the device.

In operation, the pilot flame, when once ignited, burns continuously. If the valve controlling the entrance of the gas into the burner Ii is turned on gas passes from the manifold I0 into the burner II and .out through the burnerv ports and through the ports in the spud I3. The gas issuing from the innerport of the spud I3 passes upwardly into the trap I1 and into the pipe 23. The pipes 23, 41 and 44 are inclined slightly upwardly from the trap to the hood 39 and the gas passes through the pipe and into the hood 39 above the pilot flame 38. Since the inner ends of the pipe 44 are cut at an angle to cause the upper end thereof to project to a position almost directly above the pilot flame 38 the gas passing through the pipes proximity to the open pilot ame and is readily ignited. Since the gas within the pipes 23, 41 and 44 has been mixed with air from the openings I8 and 48, the flame is carried quickly back to form the flame I5 at the port 26 of spud I3. 'I'his flame is relayed to the gas issuing from the port 25 to form the ame I4 which, by reason of its proximity to the burner II Agas issuing therefrom.

.I In my device the gas used for igniting purposes is trapped, mixed with air, and directed to a position directly over the pilot flame where it is readily ignited. The ila'me is carried to the burner by means, including a. relay burner, which insures ignition even if gas under 10W pressure or of poor burning quality is used. Thev hinged construction Iof the piper 44 permits the entire trap and tubeI structure to be raised for cleaning and adjustment of the st ove and ignition, 'which is a material advantage. Obviously my device may be duplicated for use with a plurality of burners.

The hood or trap I1, in commotion with the 'outer end of the pipe or tube 23, protects ,the torch head I3 against quenching as, for example, byv

23, 41 and 44 comes into close quickly lgnites the liquid boiling over a vessel on a burner of the range. v

Although I have described a specific4 embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modiiications may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In an igniting device for gas burners, the combination ormeans for supplying a pilot Y ame, means extending outwardly of the burner adapted to permit the escape of gas from the burner, a trap secured over said means and sup, ported thereby adapted to catch the escaping gas, connecting means supported at one end on said trap and at the other end on said pilot dame means andadapted to'carry the gas so caught to the pilot flame to cause `it to be ignited and to cause the ame to pass through the connecting means back to the trap, and means cooperating with an opening in said trap to cause the ilame in the trap to be relayed to the burner.

2. An ignition device comprising a structure for i providing a pilot ame, a burner, a fitting on the burner, a spud on the fitting havingitwo opposed ports therein, a trap, and a tubing structure supported by said trap for connecting the trap with the pilot flame structure, said trap being dis over the spud to trap the gas issuing from one of the ports thereof and having an opening therein .to permit gas issuingi'rom the other port of the spud to pass outwardly over the burner ports. v

3.l In an ignition device, the combination of a pilot burner. a base and a' hood for said pilot burner, a burner, a fitting in the burner, a spud in the iitting having two'opposed ports therein, a base secured to the fitting, a trap secured to the base and covering the/spud, a tube projecting into the trap, a tube projecting` into the hood and a connecting sleeve for connecting the two tubes whereby gas issuing from the spud is conducted to the pilot flame, is ignited and the flame is carstructure.

5. In an ignition device for gas burners, a burner having an oiset extension communicating therewith, said extension having a spud therein, a trap supported over said spud and having openings therein, said spud having opposed ports, one directed into said trap and the other directed toward one of said openings, a structure for providing a pilot flame including a hood, a connecting tube supported at one end in said hood and at the other end in said trap, and hinge means in said tube providing for disengagement of said tube from said pilot ame 1 structure.

6. In an` ignition device for gas burners, a burner having a communicating extension torming a torch head, a trap secured over said torch head, a tube supported by and extending laterally of said trap, a structure for providing a pilot flame including a hood, a tube extending into 2,01 1 ,ooo

and supported by said hood, and connecting means providing a passage between said tubes.

'1. In an ignition device for gas burners, a burner having a plurality of burner ports and having a communicating extension, a torch head in saidextcnsion having opposed ports disposed in the plane of said burner ports, a cylindrical trap member secured over said head and having openings therein, one of said torch heads being directed into said member and the other of said ports being directed through one of said openings toward said burner ports, a tube supported by and extending laterally of said trap member, a structure for providing a pilot flame including a hood. a tube extending into and supported by said hood, and connecting means providing a passage between said tubes.

8. In a gas ignition device, a structure for pro- ,viding a pilot flame, a burner, an extension on said burner, a tube supported at one end on said extension and having a portion overlying said extension, a second .tube supported at one end on said pilot name structure, a hinge structure on said second tube for securing it to the pilot flame structure and arranged to provide upward movement of the tube and disengagement from said pilot flame structure, and tubular meanshaving adjustable telescoping engagement said tubularconnection for preventing accidental removal of said tubular connection from said opening.

10. In a lighter, the combination of a burner, a source of fuel supply therefor, a pilot, a, housing for said pilot having an opening therein, a tubular connection fitting loosely at one end in the opening of said housing and being readily removable therefrom and communicating with said burner at the'other end, and integral means on said tubular connection loosely engaged with said housing and normally preventing accidental removal of said tubular connection from said opening.

ELMER G. STEFFEN. 

